Melissa LaFayette

Melissa LaFayette serves as a Field Director at the National Development Council (NDC), where she plays a crucial role in managing a small business loan fund that targets the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Her responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing, and underwriting loans to foster small business growth in rural areas. Additionally, she provides technical assistance to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, focusing on economic development finance, small business development, and affordable housing policy.13

Before her tenure at NDC, LaFayette was a community economic development volunteer with the Peace Corps in Cameroon. She also conducted research and analysis on development issues at the University of Washington. LaFayette holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Gonzaga University and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington.12